MEPs to sack relatives under new expenses rules

The European Parliament’s administrative bureau has tightened up rules on the employment of MEPs’ assistants after a probe revealed a series of misdemeanours. The investigations led to the resignation of MEP Giles Chichester as leader of UK Conservative MEPs after it was discovered that he had paid staff allowances to a firm founded by his father. In future, payments to assistants will be handled by qualified agents. Only 25% of these funds may henceforth be used to pay for research studies or other advisory work. Also, no new contracts may be concluded with close relatives of MEPs – existing contracts must be declared and are extendable for one parliamentary term only.